CATHOLIC SAINTS & FOLK SAINTS

St.
Helena is known by Catholics as the Patron Saint of the Cross and
Intercessor for converts, divorce, difficult marriages, archeologists,
fire, thunder, needle makers and empresses.

Born
to pagan parents, she knew nothing of Christianity for the first 60
years of her life. Helena had one son, Constantine the Great, who ruled
the Roman Empire until 337 AD. During Constantine’s reign, with the aid
of his mother, Christianity flourished. In addition to many other
Christian works, Helena is credited with finding the Cross, which hung
the Savior of the world.

Saint
Helen met her husband Constantius in Asia Minor while he was there
working. There marriage was small and for quite some time unknown, but
eventually news spread of their wedding.

Around
the year 270, Helen had her only child, Constantine. However shortly
after having the baby, Constantius left Helen for another woman. He left
her with Constantine, and they never heard from him again.

Constantine
did not care that his father had left because he and Helen had such a
great bond and love for each other. Helen raised Constantine alone, she
never got married again. She lost contact with many people after being
left by Constantius.

Saint
Helen and Constantine were never separated during their lives. When
Constantine was named emperor of Rome around 306, she traveled with him
and continued to live with him as well. She spent her hours praying to
God, and becoming extremely religious. She advised Constantine and loved
him very much. She had Constantine let prisoners go often and would
attend Mass daily with the normal citizens of Rome, which was unheard of
since she was royalty.

In
the year 330, Saint Helen passed away due to natural causes. This
devastated Constantine, who remained by her side during her final hours.
Her feast day is celebrated on August 18th each year.

If
you are in a difficult relationship or going through a divorce, St.
Helena can be an enormous source of emotional and spiritual support.

St. Valentine's Key

St. Valentine's Key amulet from Amulets at the Pitt River Museum http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/amulets/index.php/keys-amulet2/index.html

Saint Valentine’s key is a charm used in the province of Padua, Italy. It is a metal key named after Saint Valentine, the patron saint not only of love and marriage but also of epilepsy, traditionally known as Saint Valentine's Malady. It was once common in southern Germany, eastern Switzerland, Austria, and northern Italy to appeal to him to heal the latter condition, known for that reason as Saint Valentine's affliction.

The key is gifted as a romantic symbol and an invitation to "unlock the giver's heart".

In a ceremony at the Oratorio di San Giorgio, a small chapel in Monselice, Padua, on Saint Valentine's Day each year, small golden keys are given to children to ward off epilepsy.

Cast in white metal, this Saint Valentine’s key was purchased in the province of Padua in northern Italy. Popularly recognised as the patron saint of love and marriage, Valentine was a Roman priest who was caught marrying couples and martyred for refusing to give up his Christian faith. He was executed on 14 February, AD269. The date was first marked as his feast day in AD 496, although it was not until the 14th century that it became a celebration of romantic love. While Saint Valentine’s keys are traditionally gifted as a romantic symbol and an invitation to unlock the giver’s heart, Saint Valentine is also a patron saint of epilepsy. The belief that he could perform miraculous cures and heal the condition – also known as ‘Saint Valentine’s illness’ or ‘Saint Valentine’s affliction’– was once common in southern Germany, eastern Switzerland, Austria, and northern Italy. To this day, a special ceremony where children are given small golden keys to ward off epilepsy is held at the Oratorio di San Giorgio, a small chapel in Monselice, Padua, on14 February each year.